Part Eight: Goodbye, Drovers

I slammed the screen door in annoyance. Bloody Marion, she'd taken of on Phoenix without asking AGAIN. I was so pissed off at her. Phoenix was my horse, my special horse. Mum had given her to me when I was ten. We were the best of mates.

Of course, when I told Mum she wasn't concerned. According to her, Marion was a good horsewoman and could be trusted with Phoenix. But that wasn't the point, she always takes my stuff without asking, and Phoenix was so dear to me…Mum should understand, she'd be the same if someone touched her precious Blaze. She was too involved with Alex to notice. I swear, if anything happened to my horse…

So there I was, slaving away cleaning the yards, while Marion was taking my horse for a joy ride, and Mum was lazing around with Alex. I felt like I was the only one doing any real work around the place. Tess and Nick had gone home with Bianca, and Meg was in town for the day getting supplies.

I gritted my teeth as lunch came, and I found myself again alone in the kitchen. After waiting for a while I made myself a sandwich and carried it out to the sheds. I needed to move the mob back to the south paddock, but I couldn't do it without a horse. Sighing, I resorted to taking Eagle.

I grabbed a halter and went to catch him. Mum and Alex were messing around in the hayshed, and my stomach felt queasy as I passed them. Geez, I know I wanted my parents back together, but did they have to be together all the time? And all over the place? What was it Tess always said? Be careful what you wish for, it might just come true.

'Charlotte?' Mum tore herself away from Alex just long enough to notice me. 'What are you doing?'

'Moving the mob.' I said shortly. 'Is there a problem?'

'Excuse me young lady, don't talk to me like that.' Mum frowned. 'Yes, there is a problem. I don't want you riding Eagle.' It was my turn to frown. A pang jolted through my stomach.

'Why not?' I said in a small voice. 'Don't you trust me?'

She seemed at a loss for words, and looked at Alex for help. He shrugged and made a face, and she sighed.

'Look, just wait until Marion comes back and take Phoenix.' She said softly.

'She's been out ALL day on MY horse!' I shouted. 'And YOU've been out here ALL day doing absolutely NOTHING! What am I supposed to do, sit here and twiddle my thumbs? Gee, great, thanks Mum, glad I'm quitting school for this.' I whirled on my heel, and stomped up to my room. Mum protested behind me, but Alex stopped her from coming. I was furious with both of them.

When Marion arrived home that night, I gave her a piece of my mind. Phoenix was in one piece, barely. Sweat was dripping off her, she was tired, and I wouldn't be surprised if she came up lame. I screamed, I cried, I shouted, I bawled, and the worst thing was, I didn't even know exactly what I was upset about.

I was steaming at Marion, sure, but it if I was honest with myself, it wasn't just her I was annoyed at. For some reason my parents were getting up my back too. I should have been over the moon for them; things had turned out fantastically. Instead, as much as I hated to admit it: I was jealous.

Not of them exactly, but of what they had. Like, the other night for example. Alex was goofing around and trying to open the beetroot at the same time, and he ended up slipping and slicing his hand open.

Needless to say, Mum was so worried she nearly had a brain haemorrhage. The look in her eyes…it said it all. She wouldn't be calmed until Alex had stitches. She was so worried that she was nearly out of control, and even though Alex was in pain his first priority was to reassure Mum.

I think it was then I really understood it. Sure, I knew they cared, I knew they were 'in love' so to speak, but I didn't realise how special what they had was until then. How deep, and how rare. Tess and Nick, I don't know if even they have something that special.

And here I go again, sounding like a marriage counsellor. Hey, if I decide not to work here, maybe that's a future career path. Except for the fact that I'm the one who probably needs counselling after the latest blow-up. Well, bugger that.

And so, I decided to go downstairs. I knew I couldn't stay mad at them for something they couldn't help. Marion was another story, though. It would take me quite a while to forgive her.

As I climbed down the stairs I expected to see them at the table, waiting for me. I guess I was giving myself too much credit. They had again returned to their latest hobby, and I won't gross you out with the details, but it sure wasn't pretty. I stopped in the doorway.

'Alex, I really should go and check on Charlotte.' Mum broke away and gave a laugh.

'Claire, she'll be fine, just give her some time to cool off.' Alex seemed unconcerned. My stomach jerked.

'No, Alex, I think she has a point. We haven't exactly been helping around today.' Mum arched an eyebrow at him.

'Stop worrying, Claire! Honestly, Charlotte will get over it.'

'Maybe you're right.' Mum bit her lip.

'Really, she's just finding something to sulk about. You know what kids are like.' Alex continued. I frowned. Was it just me, or did he sound like he didn't care at all? But the worst part was to come.

'You know what?' Mum said, kissing him with a smile. 'I think you're right. Like you said, she'll get over it.'

I felt like I'd just been slapped in the face. Did my own mother really care that little that she couldn't even spare me two minutes of the day? I could have slit my wrists up there for all she knew. Or cared.

I turned in the doorway, silently shaking. That was it, I'd had enough. I was leaving.